Is New Jersey The New Black?

by Reality Raver

New Jersey seems to have got its own genre of reality TV, with shows based mainly on it italo-american characters, and if Margaret Meade was doing a sociological study her conclusion would be New Jersey residents are a bit skanky. It is all about the big hair, the fake nails, a ton of make up, and a lot of lycra. Oh and a lot of screaming.

First there was the Real Housewives of New Jersey, where some of the character were hinted to have mafia connections, and others have shady pasts. Danielle Staub who denied being a prostitute, but did admit to cocaine dealing and stripping now has a sex tape circulating (see story on The Huffington Post). Also Teresa Guidice and her husband have declared themselves bankrupt, which I doubt will stop the IRS sniffing around them. (Source People Mag).

There is also the infamous Jersey Shore, which really deserves its own blog post. However basically it is young and dumb italo-american’s hanging out at the equivalent of Big Brother mixed with the Gold Coast at schoolies week. Yes it is all about banal conversation, getting drunk and laid. Also there is the obligatory hot tub. Snooki and The Situation have turned into major reality TV stars.

There is a show called Jersey Couture which premiered in the US a few weeks ago which is set in a bridal shop, and on Style channel Jerseylicious premiered last week. The show is set in a a hair and make up salon in central New Jersey. Nor premiere date here yet.

The show does nothing to detract from the stereotypes that have been set in the previous mentioned shows.

A mother and daughter run the salon, which they have just given a $2 million makeover, and it is about their lives and their employees.

Olivia a make up artist is her second choice of career she said “If I could make a living from fist pumping to house music, I would be in there like swimwear”. She also has a tanning salon addiction.

Olivia is fighting with Tracey a hair stylist who is going out with her ex-boyfriend. Tracey comes out with comments like “My hair has more personality then the girls that I know”. Her hair is the typical jersey bouffant.

Another hairstylist Gigi is desperate to get married to boyfriend Frankie. Who is 22 and a complete dickhead. In the first episode he sits with his father at the table smoking and demanding their dinner. She will have an AVO taken out against him within five years.

The show is a bit scripted and staged at this point, but is fairly entertaining. If you like fake tan, fake boobs, and fake personalities and a lot of drama this could be the TV show for you.

I can see why Snickers has become the face of Joisey Shore, but what has The Situation ever done for us? Not that I think Snookie has made an indelible mark on the culture, but she does provide some funny commentaries, and does cartwheels in skimpy underwear… The Situation is the least interesting guy on a show of uninteresting people.

You’ve got to love Jersey. The two Jersey boys on 24 hour restuarant battle s2 ep2 describe their dream as opening an “upmarket diner” (that would make it a restuarant guys). Naturally it had to have the obligitory disco fries on the menu. So upmarket.